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DEPARTMENT
NEWS & VIEWS
Fisheries and Wildlife
December 1990
Scientific Creditability and the Spotted Owl Conservation Plan
A team of 11 scientists representing diverse interests supplemented the ISC and participated fully in
all deliberations, were equal authors of the plan,
but were not responsible for signing the final
document. NPS, USFS (3), USFWS, Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife, California
Department of Fish and Game, Washington
Department of Wildlife, academia, timber industry
(NCASI), and environmental groups were represented. Seven of the 17 members of the team that
authored the ISC report had ties to Oregon State
University, as graduates or faculty.
Editor's Note: Following the release of the Interagency
(Thomas Report) and the listing of the owl as Threatened
under the Endangered Species Act, a number of politicians
called for another review of the data. Chuck Meslow, Leader
of the Oregon Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, and a
member of the Interagency Scientific Committee, discusses
the scientific credibility, composition and function of the team
that produced the conservation plan. Dan Edge
The Interagency Scientific Committee (ISC) to
address conservation of the Northern Spotted
Owl was established under the authority of an
interagency agreement between U. S. Forest
Service (USFS), U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service
(USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
and National Park Service (NPS). The Committee
was directed to develop a scientiacally- credible
conservation strategy for the Northern Spotted
Owl in the U.S. under Section 318 of Public Law
101-121 in October 1989.
The six- member ISC was chaired by Jack Ward
Thomas, USFS, LaGrande, and included Jerry
Verner, USFS, Fresno; Barry Noon, USFS, Arcata;
Eric Forsman, USFS, Olympia; Joe Lint, BLM,
Roseburg; and Charles Meslow, USFWS,
Corvallis.
Prior to writing the report, the Committee
reviewed all available literature and reports,
invited presentations by any and all groups or
individuals with data on the owl, visited various
portions of the Northern Spotted Owl range (WA,
OR, CA), and invited presentations by experts in
silviculture and conservation biology. We then
sequestered ourselves for two months and
developed and wrote the conservation strategy.
Both the National Forest Management Act (NFMA)
of 1976 and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of
1973 require the use of the best scientific information available to evaluate status of species.
NFMA requirements prescribe that the USFS
maintain viable populations of all native species
well-distributed on USFS lands. Really, it tells the
USFS keep wildlife well-distributed on the
landscape, and don't create endangered species.
(continued page 2)
Spotted Owl
(continued from page 1)
The ESA applies to all land
ownerships with special
emphasis on federal lands, BLM
as well as USFS. The ESA
provides real muscle and asserts
the need to manage on the basis
of the best scientific information
available.
The ISC was fortunate in having
a good data set available. Data
on the Northern Spotted Owl has
been accumulating since 1972.
The intensity (man years devoted
to data acquisition) was
relatively low until about 1982.
Since then the effort has
intensified many fold, with much
of the work being done by OSU
personnel. The Fish and Wildlife
Service's listing review team
commented that more
information was available on
which to base a listing decision
than for any other proposed
the available data/information to
attempt to refute them. Science
doesn't prove things, it tries to
disprove the current hypothesis
and thereby formulate a new one
to test. Where our hypotheses
failed to be supported by data
they were revised and retested.
We used empirical data,
mathematical models, and
ecological theory to test, adjust,
and retest our conservation
strategy until the final plan
conformed in all respects to our
Seven of the 17
members of the team
that authored the ISC
report had ties to
Oregon State
University as
graduates or faculty.
speciesever.
You cannot provide convincing
science without good empirical
data and the data set for the
Northern Spotted Owl was
strong. We were fortunate in
that past Spotted Owl research
was directed at management
issueshome range size, habitat
use, dispersal distance, and
survival and reproductive rates.
Thus, the data available were
pertinent to development of a
conservation strategy. Scientists
always lust for more databut
the set available was adequate to
allow a scientifically creditable
process.
The Committee used the
scientific method to derive the
conservation strategy. We
formed hypothesesthen used
current understanding of the
biology of the Northern Spotted
Owl. We did not use models of
population response alonewe
always used them in conjunction
with empirical data and
ecological literature and theory.
Creditability also results from
the evaluation of the credentials,
experience, and reputation of
those who prepare any report.
The team members were selected
with these criteria in mind and
each team member's credentials
are available in the report for
public evaluation. The
composition of the team, by
employing organization, was
also critical to creditability. Each
involved state and federal
agency as well as academia, the
timber industry and environmental organizations were
2
represented. Thirteen of the 17
persons in the team had
extended experience with
research or management of
Spotted Owls.
The process was open. Any and
all sessions, including field
trips, were open to attendance
by anyone who cared to do so.
The Committee went to
considerable effort to invite
formal presentations from the
full spectrum of interested
parties with information to
contribute. Only in the last two
months did the team sequester
themselves and prepare the
final report.
The report was subjected to
"peer review", a critical element
for scientific creditability. We
asked the presidents of five
scientific/professional societies
to each select an individual to
review the report. We received
critiques of our effort from The
Wildlife Society, Ecological
Society of America, American
Ornithologists' Union, Society
of American Foresters, and
Society for Conservation
Biology. We reviewed the
critiques and incorporated
modifications deemed
appropriate in our final report.
In general, the five peer reviews
were supportive. Later, in
August 1990, the Assistant
Secretary of Agriculture
initiated an additional set of
peer reviews by members at
four land grant universities;
University of Maine (M.
Hunter), N. Carolina State
University (R. Lancia), Texas
A&M (J. Teer), Virginia
Polytechnical Institute and State
University and (J. Carr). These
reviews again were supportive
but cautioned that the level of
(continued page 6)
Messa e From the Chairman
The holiday season is one of
promise, hope and a time to be
with family and friends discussing important events in our lives
and remembering the good times
of the past. This year as we
renew our circle of friends and
colleagues, my thoughts are on
foundations. It is a different
topic for a holiday letter, but
cracks in our 20-year-old
building, and the erection of the
new Agriculture II building
within a few feet of our front
door have focused my mind on
foundations that support our
buildings and our profession. If
the foundations of our profession
were as well understood as how
to support a multi-storied building, our profession shouldn't
have too many difficulties in
reaching the public about our
concerns for renewable
resources.
The academic structures often
seem rigid and inappropriate to
persons in a different field of
study. The structure of an
academic program for an undergraduate student in Fisheries
and Wildlife is not always the
same, nor should students be
molded like bullets. A flexible
structure over a strong
foundation is needed to fit different expectations and needs.
Students entering Fisheries and
Wildlife degree programs at
Oregon State University in 1990
will work toward a degree with
options for wildlife or fisheries
science, marine resources,
fisheries/business, public
education, extension, or an
individual studies option. This
variety of options still has a firm
foundation on which a student
can grow and develop. Much
planning and detail have gone
into this program, but we are
really just pouring the concrete
walls over all of the reinforce-
ment bars and base support that
families and teachers have
already given students.
minorities, and the number of
women Ph.D. candidates in
wildlife is far too low.
The scientific foundation of our
profession and department is
strong and getting stronger. The
faculty, students, staff and
alumni of our department have
always worked toward excellence in the scientific aspects of
the fisheries and wildlife profession. Accepting nothing but
the best has been one of our great
strengths. The recent Thomas
Committee reports on the
Northern Spotted Owl supported
the findings of Eric Forsman and
the many years of investigation
of the species at O.S.U. Our
graduates have the necessary
skills and background on which
to continue their learning about
natural resources. That part of
our foundation seems firm, but it
will need constant attention and
effort. The social elements of our
professional foundation need
support now.
The lack of adequate representation of minority students
from the U.S.A. in fisheries and
wildlife is a national problem.
This makes the social structure of
our profession weak. At the
March meeting of the North
American Wildlife Conference, I
strained to find a minority in the
technical sessions and there were
no women at the business
meeting of The Wildlife Society.
The Pittsburgh meeting of the
American Fisheries Society had a
few minorities present and
women were on the Executive
Board of the A.F.S., but the
AIFRB did not have any women
on its executive board. We need
the reinforcement of minorities
in our profession if we are to
meet the conservation challenges
of the next century. The minorities in the U.S.A. have only
dimly heard of the way that our
renewable natural resources are
being spent, and if we fail to get
our messages to them, we fail to
educate tomorrow's majority.
Students learn almost as much
(and maybe more) from their
fellow students as from the
faculty. Knowing people from
different backgrounds and
cultures adds much to a firm
foundation for a person's
thoughts and actions. Talented
students from over the world
come to O.S.U. to study fisheries
and wildlife. These are students
from Germany, Japan, Rwanda,
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico
and Oman. Students from
Oregon still comprise the majority of our students, and the competition to attend O.S.U. is
increasing as the University has
raised the grade point average
for admittance and set a quota on
the number of students who can
attend. We have better students,
but lacking in this mixture are
representative numbers of
3
As we draw our circle of friends
and colleagues closer together
this year, I wish for each of you
a bigger circle with more
members of ethnic, racial and
religious minorities. In order to
accomplish this we need your
help in telling women and
minorities about the opportunities in the fields of fisheries
and wildlife, and it won't hurt to
mention O.S.U. as a good place
to get an excellent educational
background. The promise and
the hope of a better and stronger
foundation for our profession
depends on all of us to widen the
circle. Happy Holidays!
- Dick Tubb
Meet Your Faculty
Dave Sampson describes
himself...
with a legal trout as compensation for all their time and
efforts.
When I'm asked to describe what
I do for a living, I usually say
that I'm a "fisheries scientist".
But, after a pause to let the
interested party ponder my
reply, I qualify my statement and
explain that I've been involved in
research on marine worms,
shrimp, and whales. Then, just
to add to their puzzlement, I tell
them that most of what I do is
applied mathematics and
statistics.
I don't remember ever having a
burning desire to be a fisheries
scientist but I suppose I've
always had a predilection for fish
and fishing. My career in
fisheries has always been marine
oriented but I also have an
affinity for freshwater. At an
early age I developed a keen
interest in fly-tying and flyfishing for trout. This was in
spite of the fact that no one else
in my family was (or is) a flyfisherman and that the nearest
trout streams were several hours
inland. Perhaps my parents
were over-indulgent to take me
on trout fishing expeditions.
Certainly they were very tolerant
of and patient with my futile
attempts at fly fishing. It took
several years of flailing the water
before I was able to present them
I also seem to have a tendency to
turn up on the Pacific Coast.
This is my third trip west. As an
undergraduate I spent four years
at Stanford University and graduated in 1975 with a degree in
Human Biology. I went home to
Maine and, after working for a
summer in a restaurant
(preparing fish and seafood, of
course), I returned to the
Department of Marine
Resources. But this time around
I worked in the research division
as a technician, first for the
alewife and northern shrimp
projects, and then for the marine
worm project. After a few years
at those tasks I decided that I
needed and wanted to learn
more about these strange mathematical models and statistical
procedures which I was being
(continued page 5)
Department Staff Received Awards from CAS
Department of Fisheries and
Wildlife staff received two
awards during the College of
Agricultural Sciences Faculty/
Staff Day. The "Stream Team"
was first to receive this newly
established award which recognizes "superior and distinguished interdisciplinary team
achievements in teaching, research, international or extension
activities of faculty and staff."
The Stream Team, established in
1971, conducts research on
numerous aspects of stream
ecology, incorporating several
disciplines. The team's research
was important in developing
new rules for the Oregon Forest
Practices Act, especially retaining riparian vegetation and large
woody debris. The Stream
Team's research has also focused
on the use of organic material as
it passes from headwaters into
major tributaries, and stream
recovery following the Mount St.
Helens eruption.
The award included individual
plaques for each team member
and $1,000 for use by the team.
The team is headed by Stan
Gregory; other members from
the Department of Fisheries and
Wildlife include Jim Hall, Linda
Ashkenas, Judy Li, and Randy
4
Wildman. The team also
includes David McIntire
(Botany), Arthur McKee (Forest
Science), Norman Anderson
(Entomology), and Jim Sedell,
Fred Everst, Gordon Reeves and
Frederick Swanson from the U.S.
Forest Service.
William Liss was placed on the
Registry of Distinguished
Teachers in recognition of his
outstanding and consistent
efforts in teaching.
Congratulations to the recipients
of both awards!!
Dave Sampson
(continued from page 4)
asked to use. In the autumn of
1979 I headed west for a second
time, to the University of
Washington for intensive courses
in statistics, population
dynamics, and ecosystem
modeling.
It was at UW that my eyes were
opened to the tremendous power
and utility of applied mathematics. Suddenly I could see
that there was real use for all
those weird symbols and
notation.
After three quarters at UW, I
returned to Maine and to the
Department and served as the
statistical and computer consultant for a variety of different
programs: stock assess ments of
the Gulf of Maine northern
shrimp resource; the design and
implementation of a computerized licensing system for the
Department's commercial fishing
licenses; the design and implementation of a port sampling
program for groundfish landed
at the smaller Maine ports; and
the development of fish traps for
the capture of juvenile groundfish for tagging experiments.
In addition to doing my job for
the Department and working on
(and eventually completing) my
Master's research and thesis, I
also sang with several amateur
choruses, played trombone with
the town band, and was
involved, on stage and off, with
the productions of our local
theater group. For me music is a
fan- tastic release from tension or
frustration.
In the summer of 1984, having
just successfully defended my
Master's thesis, I was suddenly
offered a chance to study at the
Imperial College of Science and
Technology, a part of the
University of London. This
seemed too good and unusual an
opportunity to let pass. So, after
several frantic months of
finishing up projects for the
Department, I arrived in Britain
on New Years' Eve and began
the next phase of my career as a
fisheries scientist. I had come to
Imperial College with the expectation of doing two years of
research on Antarctic krill, but I
ended up spending four years
examining and analyzing the
International Whaling
Commission's extensive data
base on the catches of baleen
whales from the southern
hemisphere.
I am very grateful that I had the
opportunity to live in London for
almost four years. London is a
vibrant city with an incredible
variety of sights and sounds to
offer. But my best experience
happened during my first year
there; I met my wife, Nicky,
while on a weekend retreat with
the Imperial College choir. Life
in a big city in a foreign country
is much nicer when you have a
local guide to show you around.
In the autumn of 1988, my
research and Ph.D. thesis more
or less finished and my money
from Imperial College at an end,
we moved to Portsmouth, on the
south coast of England, and I
started a job as a research
associate with the Marine
Resources Research Unit at
Portsmouth Polytechnic's School
of Economics. I worked with a
research team that was studying
the effects of technological
change on fishery systems. It
was very instructive to work
with economists and learn their
view of the problems of fisheries.
My current research interest in
fishermen's choice of fishing
location and fishing technology
stems directly from my work and
experiences at the Polytechnic.
My wife and I are pleased to be
in Oregon. We have a whole
new world to explore and enjoy,
a new family to raise (daughter
Jessica Rose was born in England
in early September), and new
friends to meet.
PUBLICATIONS
Your department is one of the most productive units in the College of Agriculture Sciences both from the
standpoint of undergraduate teaching and research grants. Faculty and graduate students in the
department are currently involved in over 60 research projects ranging from community structure and
function to contaminant toxicity. Results from these and other studies are reported in a number of
international scientific journals. The following is a partial list of the more than 80 publications by faculty
and staff from your department in 1990. Reprints of most of these articles are available on request from
the senior author.
(continued page 6)
5
Publications
(continued from page 5)
Ave lla, M, C. B. Schrecic, and P. Prunet. Plasma
prolactin and cortisol concentrations of
stressed coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch,
in freshwater or saltwater. Gen. Comp.
Endocrinol. In press.
Curtis, L. R., N. L Kerkvliet, L. Baecher-Steppan, and H.
M. Carpenter. 1990. 2,3,7,7Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin pretreatment of
mice altered tissue distribution but not hepatic
metabolism of a subsequent dose. Fund. Appl.
Pharmacol. 14:523-531.
Bartholomew, J. L., T. Yamamoto, J. S. Rohovec, and J.
L Fryer. 1990. Immunohistoc.hernical
characterization of a monoclonal antibody
against Ceratomyxa shasta. Aquatic Animal
Health 2(1):68-71.
Dauble, D. D., and L. R. Curtis. 1990. Effects of
digestive processes on fate of (14C) quinoline
ingested by rainbow trout. Environ. Toxicol.
Chem. 9:505-512.
Main, M. B., and B. E Coblentz. 1990. Sexual
segregation among unglates: a critique. Wildl.
Soc Bull. 18:204-210.
Markle, D. F., and J. E. Olney. 1990. Systematics of
pearlfishes (Pisces: Carapldae). Bull. Mar. ScL
47Q).
Maule, A. G., and C. B. Schreck. 1990. Glucocorticoid
receptors In leukocytes and gill of coho
salmon. Gen. and Comp. Endocrinology
77:448-455.
Blakely, K. L, J. A. Crawford, R. S. Lutz, and K. M.
Kilbride. 1990. Response of key foods of
California quail to habitat manipulations.
Wlldl. Soc. Bull. 18240-245.
DeNicola, D. M., C. D. McIntire, G. A. Lamberti, S. V.
Gregory, and L. R. Ashkenas. 1990. Temporal
patterns of grazer-periphyton Interactions in
laboratory streams. Freshwater Biology
2.3:475-489.
Burnett, K. M., and W. J. Liss. 1990. Multisteady-state
toxicant fate and effect in laboratory aquatic
ecosystems. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 9:637-647.
Cal, Z. W. , and L. R. Curtis. 1990. Effects of diet and
temperature on consumption, growth and
tissue fatty acid composition of triploid grass
carp. Aquaculture. 88:313-327.
Carraway, L. N. 1990. A morphologic and
morphometric analysis of the relationships
within the "Sorex vagrans species complex" in
the Pacific Coast region. Special Publications,
the Museum, Texas Tech University, 32:1-78.
Coblentz, B. E. 1990. Exotic organisms: a dilemma for
conservation biology. Conserv. Biol. 4:261-265.
Crosby, M. P., R. I. E. Newell, and C. J. Landon. 1990.
Bacterial mediation in the utilization of carbon
and nitrogen from detrial complexes by
Edge, W. D., and S. L Olson-Edge. 1990. Population
characteristics and group composition of
Capra aegagrus in Kirthar National Park,
Pakistan. J. Mammal. 71:158-160.
Feist, G., and C. B. Schreck. 1990. Hormonal content of
commercial fish diets of young coho salmon,
Oncorhynchus kisutch, fed these diets.
Aquaculture 86:63-75.
Gut, L. J., W. J. Liss, and P. H. Westigard. 1990.
Arthropod community organization and
development in pear. Environmental
Management, Vol. 15.
Langton, C. J, and A. E DeBevoise. 1990. Effect of
microcapsule type on delivery of dietary
protein to a marine suspension-feeder, the
oyster Crassostrea gigas. Mar. Biol. 105:437443.
Miles, A. K., and E C. Meslow. 1990. Effects of
experimental overgrowth on survival and
change in the turf assemblage of a giant kelp
forest. J. Mar. Biol. EcoL 135:229-242.
Mullican, T. R., and L N. Carraway. 1990. Shrew
remains from Moonshiner and Middle Butte
caves Idaho. J. Mammal, 71:351-356.
Nichols, J. W, and L. J. Weber. 1990. Lack of
myoglobin function in the isolated perfushed
buffalo sculpin (Enophys bison) heart. Can. J.
Zool., 68:825-829.
Noss, R. F. 1990. Can we maintain biological and
ecological integrity? Conserv. Biol. 4:241-243.
Sampson, D. B. 1990. A length-structured population
model for southern fin whales and a test for
density dependence. J. Cons. Int. Explor. Men.,
46:249-268.
Schrock, C. B., M. F. Solazzi, S. L. Johnson, and T. E.
Nickelson. 1989. Transportation affects
performance of coho salmon. Aquaculture
8:15-20.
Crassotrea virginica. Limnology and
Oceanography 35:625-639.
Spotted Owl
(continued from page 2)
protection afforded the owl was
at the minimal end of acceptability.
The involvement of science in the
management of natural resources
in such a formal fashion is a
product of the law the ESA
providing the language and
access to courts by persons/
groups who perceive the law is
not being followed.
The scientific credibility of the
report was thus bolstered by use
of the scientific method, the credentials of team members, quality and quantity of data available, open process, and peer
review.
To summarize, these statements
from the ISC report serve well: 1)
Our assignment was to develop a
scientifically creditable conservation strategy for the Northern
Spotted Owl. 2) We recognize
that the impacts of the strategy
we propose will be analyzed by
We have also had the rich
others. 3) The immediate
emotional experience of preresponse, we expect, will be to
senting our report to several
focus almost solely on the shortsubcommittees of Congress and
term economic and social
discussing the report at length
impacts of implementing the
with the Interagency Task
Force's working group chaired
strategy as it affects the
by Assistant Secretary of
availability of timber. 4) This
Agriculture James Mosley. Each evaluation is critically important.
of these opportunities further
Adoption of the conservation
"tested" the substance and
strategy, however, has
scientific creditability of the plan. significant ramifications for other
6
natural resources, including
water quality, fisheries, soils,
streamflows, wildlife, biodiversity and outdoor recreation.
All these aspects must be considered when evaluating the
conservation strategy. The issue
is more complex than spotted
owls and timber supply it
always has been.
"We have proposed. It is for
others agency administrations, elected officials, and the
people whom they serve - to
dispose. That is the system
prescribed in law. It seems to us
a good one. We can live with
that."
Copies of the ISC report "A
Conservation Strategy for the Northern
Spotted Owl", Report of the Interagency
Scientific Committee to address the
Conservation of the Northern Spotted
Owl and maps depicting the Habitat
Conservation Areas are available upon
request from: BLM - Portland, Oregon
State Office, P.O. Box 2965, Portland,
OR 97208.
The Mystery of the Marbled Murrelet Unfolds
The Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus
marmoratus) is a robin-sized seabird that belongs
to the Auk or Alcid family. The nesting habits and
behavior of this species have long been a mystery.
The secretive and elusive nature, cryptic plumage,
and rapid flight (>50 mph) of the murrelet have
posed difficulties in discovering the secrets of its
life history. Indian legends have spoken of a
crude nest on a redwood bough deep in the
coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest. A very
chubby bird with an uplifted bill perched nearby.
Other Indian stories depicted murrelets nesting
high on mountains in hollow trees. However,
ornithologists have searched for nests of the
murrelet both offshore and inland since the early
1900's only to come up empty handed. Early
published papers exemplified their curiosity and
frustration: 'Does the Marbled Murrelet nest
inland?', and 'The mystery of the Marbled
Murrelet deepens'. Only now, in the late 20th
century, has the mystery of this unique seabird
begun to unfold.
days of chick rearing. Unfortunately, the chick at
the first nest fell to its death during a wind storm.
The second hatchling was eaten by a nocturnal
predator; a Great-Horned Owl was suspected to be
the culprit.
The first nest of the Marbled Murrelet was
discovered in Siberia in 1%3. Currently 19 nests
of this species have been located throughout its
range, along the Pacific Rim from Japan to central
California. In the summer of 1990 while conducting a research project funded by the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife in cooperation
with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land
Management, and the Oregon Cooperative
Wildlife Research Unit at Oregon State University,
my field crew and I discovered the first known
Marbled Murrelet nests in the state of Oregon by
using a ground search technique. The murrelet is
known to use flight corridors, such as rivers and
ridges, during dawn (and dusk) trips in summer
from nest sites to feeding areas just offshore.
While flying over forested areas they can be
detected by their frequent and loud vocalizations
"Keer, Keer." The nests were discovered by
watching and listening for incoming murrelets,
and thus witnessing the dawn exchange of the
adults at the nest. Both nests were located in oldgrowth trees in mature or old-growth forests, 1216 miles inland. We were able to observe 3 weeks
of incubation activities at each nest, but only 6
Unlike other alcids, the Marbled Murrelet does not
nest in colonies on isolated rocky islands. Instead,
these birds nest in scattered pairs or small aggregations on the mainland or large-treed islands. In
northern Alaska and Japan, it is known to nest on
the ground on steep slopes in tundra or alpine
habitat. Six murrelet nests have been located in
these areas, including one in a rocky cavity. From
southeast Alaska south, where a well-developed
coniferous forest abuts the ocean, the murrelet has
been found to nest only in large conifers, making it
unique among alcids. Thirteen tree nests have
been located: 3 in Siberia, 1 in British Columbia, 1
in southeast Alaska, 3 in Big Basin State Park in
northern California, 3 in Washington and 2 in
Oregon. All of the tree nests consisted of a
depression in moss or needles on branches of oldgrowth conifers, and were located in older-aged
forests.
As the story of the Marbled Murrelet has begun to
unfold, it has become evident that there are many
pressures that may affect its long-term viability,
(continued page 11)
7
many years with multiple
sclerosis. Jack's hoping to catch
up on hunting, fishing, and
traveling in the west.
dd
And speaking of moles, a recent
by Lee Kuhn
Trail Talk of ODFW featured a
picture of Doug Cottam (MS '85,
Three OSU faculty members
Ph.D. Penn State) the first and
visited the Soviet Union during
only Urban Wildlife Biologist
the first two weeks of June as
with ODFW. Doug was
It's very hard to lose a close
part of an Oregon trade mission.
discussing a 'mole problem' with
friend...a former college
Bill Wick ('50, MS '52), Director
one of the Portland golf course
roommate, hunting partner,
of Oregon Sea Grant, Bill McNeil fishing companion, fellow
grounds keepers. However, to
('52, MS '56), Director of the
the best of my knowledge, Doug
traveler to many a wildlife
Cooperative Institute for Marine meeting and an all around "good had never applied for a mole
Resources Studies, and Kenneth
hunting license and could be in
guy". It does happen, and on
Hilderbrand, a seafood specialist September 27 Don Dickey ('42),
deep trouble should this
with Extension Sea Grant, joined
discrepancy come to light. Since
my old mole-stomping buddy
several others visiting
I happen to have the only known
for more than 40 years passed
Khabarovsk and Vladivostok,
supply of this particular license
away after losing a tough battle
two cities in the southeastern
I'm sending one to Doug. Any of
with cancer. I'll miss him!
corner of the Soviet Union.
the rest of you mole hunters who
Other meetings were held on
wish to obtain said license and
Sakhalin Island, north of Japan. I Jack Hemphill ('50) made it back become "legal" can obtain same
specifically instructed Wick to
by sending $1.00 to me c/o
for his 40th class reunion as
come home with one of those
Department of Fisheries and
promised but we missed
fine-looking fur hats but Bill said connections. Sorry Jack, but
Wildlife, OSU. All such monies
they were a bit "spendy" even
of course go to the News &
hope you made it to Parker
for his group. Bill took several
Views expense account.
Stadium to see the Beavers wax
packages of assorted "goodies"
Arizona.
with him to give to cooperating
Russians during their travels.
Welcome back to Robert Malouf
One item included the
The December '88 News & Views (MS '71, Ph.D. '77) who has been
medallion/key chain we used in featured an article "Mole Busters selected as Director of Oregon
1985 to commemorate the 50th
Sea Grant effective January.
to the Rescue" by Bill Wick and
anniversary of the OSU
Malouf, currently the Director of
included a photo of Dick Giger
Department F/W; it turned out
the New York Sea Grant Institute
('62, MS '65) giving careful
to be a highly prized item.
based at the State University of
scrutiny to a bunch of floodSo...should you happen to run
New York at Stony Brook, will
drowned moles...part of his
into Mr. Gorbachev during any
replace Bill Wick who is retiring
excellent research project. Of
of your world travels please
in December. How nice to have
course this was too good an
observe carefully...who knows,
a nation-wide search turn up one
opportunity for Roger
even now his personal keys may Vorderstrasse ('53, MS '55) and
of our own. Too often such
be attached to one of our little
Dick's cohorts in the FWS to pass searches seem to result in some
medallions. Interesting thought! up. The picture, accompanied by pretty unsatisfactory
appointments.
many choice comments and
suggestions soon appeared on
d
Jack Adkins ('49) reports from
their bulletin board. Fortunately,
Spokane, WA where he has lived
A fine gathering of the clan on
our limited space won't permit
since retiring from the
our deck in late September when
reprinting any of these pithy
Washington Department of
Jay Long and wife Jean, Woody
comments, but knowing Dick,
Wildlife in 1982. Jack recently
Holderman and wife Bernie,
we suspect he took it all in the
lost his wife who suffered for
Francis Ives ('49), and John Adair
spirit of fun as intended.
g
gg
(continued page 9)
8
Mailbag
(continued from page 8)
('50) joined the Kuhn's for cider
and conversation. Jay looked
great though he reported taking
a bad fall off the deck of their
mobile home in Yuma last year.
Jay spent several days in the
hospital and required several
stitches to repair the damage.
Still bothered with failing
eyesight, Jay no longer drives a
car or goes hunting but I think he
can still tell an ace from a duece
so maybe all is not lost.
ddd
On May 17, 1988 Henry "Hank"
Mastin ('42) passed away in
Lakeview, Oregon. As a part of
his legacy he willed a generous
portion of his estate to the OSU
Foundation to help students
continue their studies in the
Department of Fisheries and
Wildlife. The Department has
chosen to use the earnings from
this fund to establish
scholarships for incoming
students majoring in fisheries or
wildlife with any additional
earnings going to aid graduate
students. This year's recipients
of the $1,000 Mastin awards are
Chris Smalling of Turlock, CA,
Shawn Smith of Ontario, OR,
and Craig Wilder of Klamath
Falls, OR. Congratulations to
these fine students.
ddd
Another student scholarship has
been established at Sheldon
Jackson College, Sitka, AK in
memory of Dennis Lund ('67, MS
'72) who died of cancer in
January 1989. Dennis was a fine
young man...creative, energetic
and an excellent biologist. I'm
sure Dennis would be pleased to
have some worthy student
receive funds in his name to
continue the study of
aquaculture and marine sciences
at Sheldon Jackson. Further
information regarding the
scholarship can be obtained from
Dr. Michael Kaelke, President,
Sheldon Jackson College, P.O.
Box 479, Sitka, AK 99835.
ddd
By all reports the 25th
anniversary meeting of the
Oregon Chapter of the Wildlife
Society held at Rippling River
was a huge success. At least
3,670 people attended, the largest
meeting yet. The R.E. Dimick
Award was given to Robin
Brown, ODFW for his
presentation "Northern Sea Lion
in Oregon and Washington".
This was the 21st time this award
has been given and is presented
at each annual meeting to
recognize excellence in
communication and outstanding
wildlife work. Other awards
included the Achievement
Award given to Vic Coggins ('67)
for 23 years of outstanding
service with ODFW, and the
Oregon Chapter Wildlife Society
Award to Donavin Leckenby
('62) for his many years of
research with mule deer and elk
in eastern Oregon. The Wildlife
Achievement Award was also
presented to Lt. Gerald Del Patti
('59) recently retired after 27
years of service in the Oregon
State Police in wildlife law
enforcement.
ddd
If you've visited the campus
recently you have noticed the
huge crater out in front of Nash
Hall where the old Ag. Utilities
building used to be. No, it
wasn't a bomb nor is it the site of
a new lake for the fisheries
people. It's the location of the
new AG Sciences II complex.
With a $25 million price tag, and
major funding from both state
and federal sources, it is well
started and will eventually house
much of the University's
research in genetics,
biotechnology and molecular
biology. Also of interest to F/W
grads is the 21,000 ft. expansion
of the library at the Hatfield
Marine Science Center which
was completed at a cost of $2
million, funded by EPA and
private donations. Also
complete earlier this year was a
$1.57 million fish research
laboratory to study the diseases
that can attack Columbia River
salmon during stages of their
development.
ddd
Dr. German Pequeno (Ph.D. '84)
has written to friends from
Valdivia, Chile where he is
currently Professor and Director
of the Institute of Zoology at
Universidad Austral de Chile.
Dr. Pequeno is also serving as
President of the Chilean
Ichthyological Association. He
sends best regards to his many
friends at OSU.
After 32 years and a wide variety
of jobs with the Hawaii Division
of Forestry and Wildlife, Ron
Walker ('57) is beginning to
think retirement. Ron says,
"Retirement pending...losing
interest in challenges. You guys
forgot to warn me of bio-politics,
socio-economics and threats of
law suits!" For the past 10 years
Ron's title has been "Wildlife
Program Manager" where he is
responsible for coordinating a
statewide program of wildlife
research, management,
operations, development,
(continued page 10)
9
Mailbag
(continued from page 9)
maintenance, capital
improvements, and endangered
species restoration. As he says,
"I'm busy with captive
propagation of endangered
species, protection of wetlands,
first spring turkey hunting
season, primitive firearm
experimental hunt, and
expansion of natural area
reserves system." This is losing
interest!
Stoney Ridge Rd., Landenberg,
PA 19350. That must have been
"tough duty" in gay Paree...eh
Phil?
A 3-page letter from Chris Wille
('71) who used to spend his spare
time helping Paul Peloquin ('66,
MS '69) and me chase nutrias
around the Willamette Valley.
After spending some time as one
of those "few good men" the
Marines are always looking for,
Chris eventually wound up as
one of the editor/writer/
photographers with Audubon
A great letter from Dave Narver
('56, MS, Ph.D. Washington) who
writes, "As Director of Fisheries
for the province of British
Columbia, I have what must be
the best job in the field. Over
70% of our sport catch of trout
and salmon is composed of wild
fish. We use some 30 different
stocks of wild trout as the source
of 95% of our annual 24 M egg
take. Over the last couple of
years, we have implemented a
major policy of demand
management on many of our
world-famous steelhead streams
to avoid the "tragedy of the
commons", i.e. overcrowding.
We use limited entry, license
fees, and controlled length of
stay to achieve our goal of
maintaining quality angling
experiences in uncrowded, wild
settings." Dave asks, "has it
really been 5 years since that
super-fun reunion?" I think he'd
come for another one!
Thanks to Audrey Schneider for
sending along the new address
for son Phillip, Jr. ('66, Ph.D. '75).
After an assignment as Fisheries
Toxicologist for DuPont in Paris,
France, Phil Jr. is now at 13
magazine in New York City.
Although our space doesn't
permit all of his most interesting
letter I have lifted a few tidbits.
Chris says, "...did you know I
quit my job with Audubon, got
married, and moved here (Costa
Rica)? We came here with the
idea of establishing a Tropical
Conservation News Bureau, an
agency that will feed the North
American and world press a
steady diet of stories and
pictures about what we believe is
the most important science story
of our eraperhaps of all time."
Chris and wife Diane are finding
life in Costa Rica a shocking
change from that in New York
City. "It's frustrating..we fight
the grinding slowness of the
place and remember when we
had staff, budget, clout, UPS, an
organization to support us, other
people to blame for our failures,
a car, the New York Times,
bagels, pockets full of money.
Now all we need is funding...we
have received two grants and if
we can double that money we'll
be ready to roll!" I'm betting on
Chris! If Columbus had asked
for volunteers to sail out onto
that broad unknown ocean,
Chris would have been first in
A most interesting letter from
Shawn Sandoval regarding
husband Will Sandoval (MS '80)
and after reading of his busy
schedule I can certainly
understand why he couldn't find
time to write it himself. For the
past 10 years Will has been busy
managing commercial salmon
fisheries for Indian treaty tribes
in Washington State. The last six
seasons have been spent
managing commercial fisheries
for the Muckleshoot tribe, whose
treaty area covers most of Puget
Sound, the rivers, waterways
and tributaries of present day
Seattle and its suburbs; Lake
Washington, Lake Union, and
Lake Sammamish. He has
actively participated in USCanada treaty negotiations,
inter-tribal allocation
agreements, Pacific fisheries
management council
negotiations and even in trying
to protect the Cedar River winter
steelhead run from "Herschel"
and his sea lion buddies. Since
the first of the year he's been in
Canada where he's developing a
fisheries co-management
program for three native bands
on the coast of British Columbia.
The first tribal biologist to work
for a coastal band, he's
responsible for an area
comparable in size to all the
waterways of Puget Sound, the
Straits of Juan de Fuca, and then
some. This area is extremely rich
in shellfish and fishes including
halibut, herring, steelhead and
salmon. An area where a 65 lb.
chinook is considered puny!
Meanwhile, Will thinks maybe
he should learn to dive and also
to fly. Sure hope he's not
planning to take on Herschel
hand-to-hand! As Shawn says,
"...a career in fisheries
(continued page 11)
line!
10
Marbled Murrelet
(continued from page 7)
including habitat loss, predation,
and food availability. Loss of
habitat is the most important and
timely concern. All evidence
from nest sites, locations of
chicks and eggs on the ground,
and basic distribution informaion to date, demonstrate that the
murrelet prefers old-growth
forests for nesting and roosting,
and is not found in any stands
without an old-growth component. In addition, murrelets
appear to be particular in their
choice of nest branches, and
aspects of their social behavior,
which we do not yet fully understand, point to the need for large
stands. Preferred habitat such as
this is disappearing at a rapid
rate throughout the Pacific
Northwest.
Because of the numerous
concerns about this species, in
January of 1988 the National
Audubon Society, along with
many Oregon chapters, the
National Wildlife Federation,
and the Oregon Natural
Resources Council, petitioned
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) to list the Marbled
Murrelet as a threatened species
in California, Oregon and
Washington. In January 1989,
the USFWS gave the murrelet a
Category 2 designation, which
essentially is a waiting list for
further consideration under the
Endangered Species Act. The
USFWS is 2 years overdue in
making a final decision, although
they are currently writing a
Species Status Review.
Land management agencies,
such as the Forest Service,
consider the murrelet a sensitive
species because of the USFWS
Category 2 listing. Agency
policy suggests that surveys
should be conducted to determine the distribution of the birds
in relation to timber sales in
order to evaluate the impacts of
habitat modification on their
populations. Surveys are
planned for summer of 1991.
However, it has also been suggested that providing habitat for
the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix
occidentalis) will suffice for the
murrelet. This idea would work
if spotted owls and murrelets
were equally distributed across
the landscape, had the same
habitat preferences, and
responded similarly to habitat
perturbations. However, there is
enough data to show that
murrelet habitat does not always
Mailbag
(continued from page 10)
management can bring fame,
fortune, and travel. A minor in
political science certainly won't
hurt and good negotiating and
communications skills are a
must!" Will can be reached c/o
OKNTC, P.O. Box 760, Bella
Coo la, British Columbia, Canada
VOT1CO.
d
11
overlap with that of the Northern
Spotted Owl. The current
landscape pattern in the Oregon
Coast Ranges (i.e. small patches
of old-growth forests within a
sea of clear-cuts and young
forests) has confined the
murrelet population to the
central coast where mature and
old-growth forests still exist close
to the ocean. The viability of the
murrelet will depend on the
preservation of this habitat along
the central coast, as well as
managing forests on longer
rotations in other areas of the
Coast Ranges. The habitat preferences of each species should be
handled individually, especially
when dealing with an anomaly
like the Marbled Murrelet.
Perhaps the murrelet will be
listed, or management guidelines
to preserve habitat will be implemented before vast areas of
murrelet habitat meet the saw in
1991.
S. Kim Nelson, Research Wildlife
Biologist, Oregon Cooperative
Wildlife Research Unit, Oregon
State University
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